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In response to the press enquiries yesterday (January 20) concerning the disciplinary actions that the Fire Services Department (FSD) is contemplating against a few of its staff members who were found to have failed to comply with certain operational guidelines whilst discharging their duties in the No.4 Alarm Fire in the Lai Cheong Factory Building that occurred in early 2010, an FSD spokesman made the following response:
"The FSD had no plan or intention to discuss the foregoing matter in the 2011 Year-end Review press conference held on January 16, 2012. It was only upon reporters' repeated enquiries during the question-and-answer session and the department responded that, as a follow-up to the Coroner's finding on the failure of certain FS members to comply with operational guidelines during the incident, appropriate disciplinary actions would be taken against the staff members concerned.
The spokesman reiterated that the disciplinary actions have commenced. The staff members concerned would be notified once the outcome was finalised. In the whole process, staff members concerned will be provided plenty of opportunities to state their disagreement. If they have any disagreement with the disciplinary procedures, findings or punishment, they may raise it to the Director in accordance with the established mechanism. The allegation that the disciplinary actions tantamount to 'making judgment before trial' is unfounded."
Ends/Saturday, January 21, 2012
Issued at HKT 00:14
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